Casa de Chocolates opened in 2012 as the Bay Area’s first Latin American-inspired chocolate shop. Now owned by Linda Sanchez and Jesus Chavez, the couple who started working at the Berkeley shop as UC Berkeley undergraduates say they’re carrying the torch for founders Amelia Garcia and Arcelia Gallardo.
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The Glenview shop houses the kitchen for chocolate-making, and the Berkeley store is concentrating on baked goods. Casa de Chocolates not only sells bonbons, bars, cookies and cakes, you can order chocolate beverages (hot or frozen) and buy beans from Proyecto Diaz Coffee. Find out more at casadechocolates.com.
Highway havoc: Over 5,000 people have signed a petition urging Caltrans to maintain the long-standing ban on big rigs on I-580 between Grand Ave. and Foothill Blvd. Two public hearings last month drew about 250 residents, many who voiced their opposition to lifting the ban, citing increased diesel emissions, noise and safety hazards. Resident Donald Duggan says his research shows that almost 235,000 residents would be affected by the increased traffic if the ban were removed, along with five major hospitals and dozens of schools. For more information on the Caltrans project visit nobigrigs580.org.
Gas shortage: The pumps are still closed at two Montclair-area gas stations that are out of compliance with a new California law. Thornhill Gas and the 76 Station on Park Boulevard are open for auto repairs, but are waiting for the limited number of contractors who can do the state-mandated work to replace the older, single-walled underground storage tanks. The law went into effect on January 1, 2026, forcing hundreds of California stations to shut down their pumps because they didn’t get the costly work done on time.
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Summer sips: The Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival returns on Saturday with over 50 beer, wine, cider and alcohol-free drink options. A standout group of young musicians from Oakland School for the Arts is playing on the festival stage. Prospect is considered one of the hottest new bands in the region and includes kids of Grammy winning artists and Bay Area superstars.
Local chefs and artisans will also be part of the street faire, and attendees have the option of unlimited beverage tastings for the advanced purchase price of $58. Day-of tickets cost $68. Buy tickets and find out more at montclairvillage.com.
Ginny Prior can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com.
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